In general, all the known pandemics and epidemics of influenza, which were accompanied by the appearance of new types of the virus, came from pigs. So, all the types of flu are actually 'swine'.
According to Yale Center for Public Health Preparedness, initially influenza is an avian virus. The new types of human viruses appear when avian ones mix with those of the humans. Usually avian and human viruses are difficult to hybridize. So pigs are the interlink between the two, adding their own subtypes of influenza to the mix. While these animals suffer from their own types of flu, which usually don't transmit to humans, they are a favorable environment for hybridizing avian, human, and swine types of influenza. So, H1N1 we have faced is the hybrid of this kind.
The Good News about Swine Influenza
- Swine flu is very different from H5N1 avian flu, which is absolutely unnatural for humans and which has never adapted to transmission from person to person. At the same time, avian influenza was extremely virulent (more than 50% of infected people died). In contrast, most of the people infected with swine flu recover.
- In the process of transmission from person to person the virus gets weaker and weaker. So, there is a possibility that soon the virus will obtain the characteristics of an ordinary human flu with standard death rate.
The Bad News about H1N1 Flu
- Since H1N1 is different from previously known types of viruses; there exists no vaccine against this new type of influenza.
- The vaccine against H1N1 flu is likely to be developed only by autumn 2009.
- The new type of influenza can transmit from person to person, so a threat of an epidemic really exists.
Some Myths about Swine Flu
- Eating pork is dangerous. Absolutely untrue. One cannot get infected through meat. Besides, if pork is being cooked, there are no chances for the virus to survive. The virus now transmits purely from person to person.
- Taking vitamins protects against influenza. Not at all. While it is important to eat well and healthy, adding vitamins cannot help to strengthen the immunity. More important for the immunity is a sufficient amount of proteins.
- Wearing surgical masks can protect against H1N1. Not exactly. The only type of a mask that can relatively protect against the virus is N95. However, it's very difficult to wear it for long.
- Quarantine will save everybody. Don't believe it. It is absolutely unrealistic to completely isolate and localize a respiratory virus infection.
All the types of flu that are unnatural for people have transmitted from pigs. Though there is not a vaccine against the new type of swine influenza (H1N1), and there does exist a threat of an epidemic, this virus is not as dangerous as avian flu.
Sources:
Reuters. "U.S. to have H1N1 vaccine ready by fall - official". Uk.Reuters.com, 2009.
Schabas, Richard. "Is the Quarantine Act relevant?" CMAJ 176.13 (2007).
Yale Center for Public Health Preparedness. "Avian Influenza and Pandemic Influenza: What's the Difference?" Newsletter. New Haven, CT: 2006.
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